USL PRO Game Report
Monday, April 21, 2014
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Rochester Rhinos earned their first victory of the season as they took a 2-0 victory against the Chicago Fire Reserves at Toyota Park. Attacking midfielder Minh Vu and forward JC Banks scored a goal in each half to pace the visiting Rhinos. Rookie goalkeeper John McCarthy kept the clean sheet in his first professional appearance.
In the 22nd minute the Rhinos opened the scoring through a goal from Vu. The build-up started on the right flank when Rochester right back Pat McMahon pressed Fire midfielder Oscar Gonzalez and poked the ball away to Rhinos captain Tyler Rosenlund, who was able to pick up his head and find Vu making a clever outside-in run behind the Fire back four. Vu was in on goal and kept his composure to lob the ball over the head of onrushing Fire goalkeeper Alec Kann.
The Rhinos doubled their advantage in the 81st minute. Kann played a goal kick out to the feet of Fire center back Patrick Ianni at the top of the penalty area. Ianni's ensuing pass into midfield was intercepted by Rhinos defensive midfielder Lance Rozeboom. Rozeboom played a two-touch pass out to substitute Johnny Mendoza's feet on the left flank. Mendoza's service found the feet of Banks in the Fire penalty area, and Banks was able to finish past a diving Kann.
McCarthy, at 21 the youngest goalkeeper to ever start for the Rhinos, earned the clean sheet behind an effective back four that saw Patrick McMahon and Tony Walls make their first starts of the 2014 campaign after right back Babacar Diallo and center back Patrick Slogic both suffered injuries during training this week. McCarthy was making a scheduled start after New England Revs loanee Luis Soffner started the first two matches of the season in goal.
The Rhinos next return home for their 19th home opener this Sunday, April 27th at 4 p.m. at Sahlen's Stadium against the Charleston Battery.
Tickets for the home opener as well as any other match on the Rhinos home schedule will be available by by calling (585) 454-KICK (5425), by visiting the MVP Health Care Box Office at Sahlen's Stadium, or by visiting ticketmaster.com. Rochester Rhinos season tickets, flex packages and group ticket sales are also currently available.